Africa-Press – Zambia. The Chipata High Court has overruled the decision of the Katete Magistrates’ court by granting bail to all the 20 residents of Katete’s Kamwaza village who are implicated in the severe beating of police officers and setting ablaze of a police vehicle.
Chipata resident judge Mercy Makubalo granted each of the accused bail in their own recognizance with two sureties who are of fixed aboard ascertained by either a headman or chief.
The accused met the bail conditions yesterday. Katete magistrate Mary Musongole denied the accused bail in November on account that the situation in the area was still volatile.
The accused who are represented by Joseph Chirwa of Ferd Jere and company are charged with riotous behaviour, arson, malicious damage to property, 18 counts of assault of police and one count of assault. The police vehicle which was set ablaze during the fracas is valued at 68, 000 United States Dollars.
Prior to the beating of the police, the accused are alleged to have demolished six houses belonging to Stephen Banda who is also headman Chinzu before demolishing the house of Sinikudya Banda and that of his mother at Joweni village in chieftainess Kawaza’s area.
After denying the accused bail last November, magistrate Musongole stated that the accused would remain in custody until they appear before the High Court.
She stated that the new Act number 12 of 2022 states that when a juvenile is charged with an adult, the matter should be referred to the High Court. Out of the 20 accused persons, four are juveniles.
The release of suspected murderers by police sparked the confusion in Kamwaza area. After the release of the suspects, the local people ran amok and destroyed houses belonging to the suspects and the people who were allegedly protecting them.
The police rushed to the area to control the situation but they were overpowered by the irate villagers who pounced on them before destroying a police vehicle. The police then sent a reinforcement which arrested 20 villagers who were allegedly behind the mayhem.
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